SOCIAL STUDIES: HELP YOUR CHILD DEVELOP EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY
At this time of year, as parents start getting kids ready for kindergarten or perhaps start looking for a preschool, concerns tend to focus on academic and cognitive skills, says Shelley Lindauer, professor of family, consumer and human development at Utah State University.
Ref. https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1%2C1249%2C...87355%2C00.html
I feel very strongly about this topic myself. I have seen first-hand how having a child develop socially before even entering school can help them immensely with academics once in school. My 9-year old was exposed to daycare from a very young age, mainly because of 2 full-time working parents. However, this daycare experience helped her to interact with others, and yes, there were times when bad habits were picked up, but the good seemed to outweigh the bad.
I have friends where one spouse is a full-time stay at home parent, and thus there is no need for daycare. Their child is the same age as mine and I can see a very clear difference from a social perspective. I know the homeschooling topic has been floating around the forum the last week or so, and this very point is why I am skeptical about homeschooling because it takes away the social interaction of being in a classroom setting. That's my 2 cents on this issue!
I would have to agree with you on this issue. I think that children need to be active socially. My son was just over a year old when we introduced him to daycare; It was amazing to see him open up so quickly with other children around to communicate with. This is something that my wife and I debate all of the time, she wants to homeschool, and I would like Zion to be able to have an active social life.
QUOTE (rev6death @ 14-Oct 04, 9:31 AM) |
This is something that my wife and I debate all of the time, she wants to homeschool, and I would like Zion to be able to have an active social life. |
Homeschooling doesn't HAVE to cost a lot. There are a lot of free resources that can provide all that you would need, especially for a young child.
There are also a lot of other ways to socialize your child without the dangers and terrors of public schools. Sports programs, martial arts classes, homeschool associations, church, and just friends in the neighborhood can all be much better experiences for a child than a public school.
I'd agree with you anywhere except where I live currently. I live in a sleepy college town that will not allow anything new to invade its borders. To give an idea of just how sleepy it is: there is one Fred Myer in town that fought for five years to be able to enter the town. EVERYTHING else in the town has been the same for around 20+ years. Nothing new, even when stores were put out of business in the down town area. The shops remain vacant the "good ole boys" that run the town will not change to allow other business to come in and help out. What this means as far as my son's socialization is this: there is no martial arts dojo for him. While church is an option, 99% of the church's population is 50 and above, thus GREATLY limiting his involvement with children his own age.
Yeah, I'm through ranting now.